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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Today we are joined by the gifted Jennifer Rardin. Jennifer is the author of the Jaz Parks series. She is here to celebrate the release of the sixth book Bite Marks.

1. Could you please start by telling us a bit about your Jaz Parks series?
JR: Sure! Jaz Parks and her boss, the vampire, Vayl, are assassins for the CIA. On the face of it their jobs seem pretty simple. Hunt down the bad guys who are trying to rip big, jagged holes in the fabric of America, and eliminate them. There’s even a list! But when you insert monsters, magic, and soul-starved demons into the mix believe me, nothing is easy.

Especially when your father is an ass.

Jaz could tell you all about him, but afterward she’d probably have to shove her fist through a wall. And we wouldn’t want that now, would we?

As for Vayl. Well, he’s just so delectable Jaz finds it a real challenge to maintain the sort of professional relationship the CIA expects from its agents. Especially when his eyes turn green.

2. Bite Marks (Jaz Parks #6) hits bookstores October 29th. What sort of adventures are Jaz and her team in store for in this book?
JR: It’s never good when Jaz starts a mission pissed off, but when Vayl feels the same? Watch out.

Unfortunately they both have to admit that their boss, Pete, was right to cut their vacation short. Because fanatical gnomes are threatening to take down NASA’s third eye-to-the-universe, which is located just outside of Australia’s capital of Canberra.

You may be thinking, Gnomes? What’s the big deal? All they do is stand around my mom’s garden looking adorable—and yet proving themselves useless to prevent the neighbor’s cats from crapping in her mulch!

These are not those guys. Not even remotely related, I’m sorry to say. Unless your mom’s gnomes make a habit of feeding their physically challenged community members to their young. No? Okay, then.

3. If you could describe your heroine, Jaz, in only 5 words, which would you choose?
JR: Loyal- Practical- Vulnerable- Stubborn- Sassy

4. Let’s talk about Bergman. Will he ever find love? He comes up with some incredible inventions. How do you come up with these high-tech gadgets? Have you been contacted by the Department of Defense for some tips?
JR: Bergman is da bomb. In fact, that’s probably how he’ll leave this world—by ordering Jaz to pack his corpse on the tip of a moon rocket and shoot his remains into space.

Will he ever find love? Well, first he has to decide to look for it. Then he has to recognize it when it clubs him between the eyes. I’m thinking his journey could be somewhat hilarious; maybe even more fun than reaching a final destination. But it’s really up to him, and he hasn’t yet clued me into his ultimate personal plans. I can tell you that he returns for Bite Marks and has an even bigger role in Bitten in Two.

My gadgets seem to evolve the way real inventions do—out of necessity and some thought about how practical application can translate into wondrous invention. Luckily I have Bergman to figure out the details, otherwise nothing I imagine would ever work.

I don’t think my stuff is nearly advanced enough to interest the Department of Defense. No doubt they’ve already dreamed up and either instituted or trashed most of what I’ve written about. But it is fun for me to try to outdo them.

5. I read that you are working on the next book, Bitten in Two. How many books are you planning for the Jaz Parks series?
JR: Yeah, actually I just sent the manuscript for Bitten in Two to my editor, so I’m pretty psyched about that. We’re planning one more book in the series so far. I won’t say that I’m going to end it there, but you should have a good idea of where the characters will be heading by the end of that book.

6. I discovered that you are diligently writing your YA debut novel titled Shadowstruck. Care to share any information on the storyline and release date?
JR: I can’t get too specific, because my agent hasn’t even seen it yet. But I can tell you I was first inspired to write it after watching a TV series that followed a group of teenagers through a boot-camp style setting that their parents had enrolled them in because, basically, they couldn’t deal with them anymore and they were hoping the camp counselors could “cure” them of their constant fighting, bitching, and manipulating.

One kid in particular really got to me. He was always ready to throw the first punch. But underneath I could tell he wanted to get his life together. That he could make it all work if he just had the right people backing him up. And what was pissing him off so extremely had as much to do with his crap parents as it had to do with his crap choices.

But I didn’t want to write about that world, you know? I wanted to create my own place. Different conflicts. Scarier monsters. Even bigger odds that would force a fighting-type to figure out where he stood and where he should (or even if he could) draw the line. So this story is about a 15-year-old detentionmeister who has to rescue his little sister from a man who can make his shadow real.

7. Is it hard to make the transition from adult to YA?
JR: In some ways, yeah, it is. I find myself questioning where the line is on pushing the romance, and if I’ve crossed some boundary in the violence/gore arena. But in the end I know who I’m writing to. They’re smart, sophisticated people who have limited patience for junk. As long as I keep that at the front of my mind, I should be okay.

8. What is currently on your TBR pile?
JR: Right now I’m reading The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller. My TBR pile is unbelievably tall and tippy now that I’m writing full time. Because I used to read at night, before bedtime, and now even those hours are filled with work. So here’s an abbreviated list of what’s on the pile:

The first four books in the Temeraire Series by Naomi Novik
Orphan’s Destiny, Orphan’s Journey & Orphan’s Alliance by Robert Buettner
Hal Spacejock: Second Course by Simon Haynes
Dead to Me by Anton Strout
The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller
The High Lord by Trudi Caravan

9. What is your favorite way to unwind after a hard day of writing? Any guilty pleasures?
JR: Supernatural, baby! (http://www.cwtv.com/shows/supernatural) I am so obsessed with that series it’s not even funny! Go Dean & Sam!! And no, they are not a guilty pleasure. That would be a big bowl of homemade cookie dough (minus the egg, because Salmonella is scarier than vampires!) and a glass of milk. Scrumptious!

I think I am the only person on the planet who doesn't watch that show! Jennifer thank you so much for visiting use today. Congratulations on your new release and on those to come!

Giveaway time! I was strolling through my favorite bookstore the other day and found a brand new copy of Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Jaz Parks, book 1). If you have not read this series yet, here's a chance to start.

This contest is only open to followers.

To enter, please leave a question or comment for Jennifer.

For an extra entries, post a link to this contest somewhere (sidebar, post, facebook, twitter, where ever you go). I will give one entry per link, be sure to leave me a link for verification.

I am going to open this up everyone! The giveaway will end October 29 and I will post the winner here on October 30. Good luck!

Hi Jennifer!You series have been on my wish list for a while, but I haven't started yet. Orbit sent me a copy of Bite Marks (it was a total surprise), so I need to ge tmy hands on the first 5 books first lol.

Please count me in fr the giveaway, it's gonna be a step in the right direction ^^

Best of luck to you, then, Book Whisperer. Cool story about the first book's cover. It was originally supposed to be the one you see on the UK version, with the red lips trailing blood (http://www.littlebrown.co.uk/Title/9781841496375), but was later changed to the one you see on the site now. Love them both!

Hi clenna! Go, Indiana! My kids don't so much give me ideas as keep me straight with the speech patterns and attitudes of their generation, which is really just as important.

Cool deal, Milka!

Hi Tynga! That's pretty cool, but I agree. Though the books are written to stand alone, they do progress as far as character growth and relationships are concerned. So it's a great idea to start with "Once Bitten, Twice Shy."

I love the book series ever since I read the first book. Rardin's style of writing always draws me in and keeps me on the edge of my seat. It's such a joy for me when the mailman delivers my books. The only thing I hate is the wait in betwixt, lol!

I've actually never heard of this series.My question for Jennifer is one I often ask writers, or think about asking them, just because I am curious.Jennifer, how much of *you* is there in Jaz? Would you call yourself "Loyal- Practical- Vulnerable- Stubborn- Sassy"?

I have anxiously been awaiting Bite Marks, to the point that I have been asking my book seller about it until I go the actual release date. My friend gave me a copy of oncebitten twice shy for my birthday and after reading it I had to go buy the rest. So excited for the new one but PLEASE PLEASE don't say your only planning one more.

I LOVE this series. I'm obsessively reading it. We have the new one in at work but we can't put it out yet and we're not aloud to read the street date books til they come out, and I'm itching to read it now! I would love to win a copy of the first. I'ts an awesome awesome series. And Jaz is my fav. new heroine!-Amber HallGoodBlinknPark@yahoo.com

Well, Wicked Lil Pixie, I just want you guys to know that I value my fans. You're the best, and you deserve the best!

Thanks, Rebecca. I feel the same about other people's lists. It's always great to get new ideas when the reading runs a little stale.

Great question, Misty. At times I could use any one of those words to describe myself. But I'm really nothing like Jaz. She's a lot more torn than I am, much less patient, and prone to violence. She's more like my offspring.

You're just terrific, K. Keep that bookseller of yours on her toes! Though I'm only contracted to do one more book in the series, I'll certainly be open to further novels if there's enough demand for them.

Yay, Amber! I had no idea you guys didn't get a sneak peek. Where's the perks, dern it??

Thanks, jeanette8042. I love them too. In fact, I was sending some materials out related to my upcoming book tour, and I realized I was excited to be able to put the "Bite Marks" cover on them. Orbit's art department is just crammed with creative geniuses!

Thanks, Llehn! We decided early on to include some form of the word "bite" in each title, as a direct reference to Vayl. But also in a broader sense referring to the conflicts that take place in the stories, both personally and physically. They all usually bite in some way! Anyhow, "Bitten in Two," was my idea, so I'm glad to hear you like it. "Bite Marks," is also mine. The rest of the titles were more of a group effort. So I guess I have a lot of control as long as no other books are out on the market with very similar titles and nobody else can think of anything better!

This series always grabs my attention when I'm browsing through Barnes. However they never seem to have the first book. I should have just bought it online but I don't use my brain all the time lol. I'm definitely interested in starting the series.

I really enjoyed the interview! I love the way Jaz sounds and the tension between her and Vayl sounds exciting =D

A question for you though Jennifer - Did you always have an interest in writing? What was your dream job when you were a child?

It's always fun to hear what author's wanted to be when they were little - from ballerinas to airplane pilots, it's cool to hear the different answers.

Hi Cherry! I wouldn't call it block, because I know I have somewhere to go, but sometimes I get stuck trying to get there. I might write myself into a sticky situation or corner my characters so tightly that they won't move until I realize I shouldn't have put them there in the first place. Usually my best bet is to immerse myself in the characters and the story, and really begin to ask myself what I would do if I was one of them in that situation. It also helps to do the things that totally relax me, because that's when I write best.(For some odd reason I've found that hot showers inspire my best ideas.)

Thanks, Mishel! "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" just came out in mass market this July, so hopefully it'll be a little easier for you to find. I just saw it in Borders yesterday. I've been interested in writing since I was about twelve. But I think my first dream job was probably (predictably?) veterinarian.

Thanks, Sheere! That's a tough one, but probably my all-time favorite YA book is "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L’Engle. I also just read "The Summoning" by Kelley Armstrong and really loved it. And I think the whole world should read "The Stand," by Stephen King.

Hey cait045, I really appreciate that! Hope to hear from you after you get the chance!

I forgot to mention that I'm starting The Great Midwestern Book Tour (Plus Tennessee)! this Sunday, so if any of you are close by I'd love to have the chance to meet you personally. Here are the links for more information on my stops in:

Throw my name in the hat.I follow up on Twitter.I watched the first season of Supernatural but for some reason never put it on my record list on the DVR. Will have to check and see if they have it at the video store.